They say variety is the spice of life and as usual, “they” know what they are talking about. When it comes to giving talks or lectures, vocal variety is an essential secret ingredient for a compelling presentation.
continue readingWhat’s all this about using a straw for voice?
Using drinking straws to enhance voice has become quite a trend. The exercise can have many benefits for voice, which we will discuss in future posts.
For now, I want to drop a short audio file here to get you started playing with the straw kazoo exercise, with more details to come. Enjoy!
If you’d like personalized instruction on working with the straw, or anything else relating to voice, speech, or presence, reach out for a session!
Be heard at (holiday) gatherings
Several people have asked me lately how to avoid hoarseness or voice loss at family gatherings, so I thought I’d share some tips for those who are prone to vocal fatigue or strain in festive situations.
continue readingWanna stop mumbling?
You: Saying anything at all
Them: What was that?
Them: (Quizzical look)
Them: I didn’t catch what you said
Them: (pause, then) Oh, ok I got you
If these responses are familiar to you, you just might mumble!
Mumbling is basically speaking in a way that is so soft, fast, or indistinct that people have a hard time understanding your words.
continue readingWhat does a Vocal Coach do if there are no accents in a play?
I was surprised by how many people asked this question when I told them about an upcoming vocal coaching gig. So let’s break these concepts down!
continue reading5 everyday words that make a foreign accent more (or less!) pronounced
One of the keys to sounding natural in any language is rhythm. Emphasis and stress are often at least as important as getting the correct speech sounds. The five common words below have special pronunciation rules that affect the whole rhythm of a sentence, and make a huge different in the way a speaker’s accent/speech is perceived. The words are:
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